Yesterday I was visiting with my friend Sandra. She has been living in Juarez, Mexico since Christmas, helping her mom at the orphanage. She has given up many of our necessities, hot water, regular nutrious meals, sleep (you get the picture) to love on these kids. She has also tried to find their parents, only to find out some of the parents don't want their children. She has established reading and homework time to see the kids grades and self esteem go up. But the story she shared that touched me the most was about young teen girls being brought to the orphanage.
She was saying that the police will bring young girls to the orphanage around midnight. She would always tell them she didn't want them there with her kids. But one night she was taking a shower and 5 girls came to the gate with the police and another adult let them stay the night. She was upset. But she learned these girls were put in jail with the crimals. We won't even let ourselves think of what these girls went through. She also heard the statement "No one wants these girls, this is our last place to leave them".
God spoke to her and said, "What is your purpose?" To bake cookies and raise money to help get these girls out of the sex trade. I have brought them to you to show them I love them, even if for a short time.
I was challenged by all this because God has been asking me to continue to pray for land near the orphange for these young girls for a half way house and for leaders there. I shared this with my daughter and she said, people have been telling her their heart is for young girls placed in these condtitions not by choice.
Now I am ranting, but we have it so good. We really think we sacrifice if we do something "missional when it works with our schedule or it is fun or everyone at church is doing it. I am guilty. What if for one month in our churches, we didn't serve coffee and donuts, didn't buy props for our church or couldn't go to the store to buy the things we think necessary. We had to look around and make things work and be creative without spending a penny. Many countries I have been to do this every week. And that money we don't use would go to missions so their life could be easier for one week or maybe even eat more than 2 meals a day.
To be honest, when I am in Ukraine or Mexico to do without is not hard for me, but when I come home doing without is very frustrating. I love the American life style. This is a battle that I have been fighting for a month now. Hearing Sandra's story has brought what I have been trying to push down inside me so I wouldn't have to think about it, up to center stage again.
I hear the terms missional, not a fan and radical used often by me and others...Am I up to the challenge?
She was saying that the police will bring young girls to the orphanage around midnight. She would always tell them she didn't want them there with her kids. But one night she was taking a shower and 5 girls came to the gate with the police and another adult let them stay the night. She was upset. But she learned these girls were put in jail with the crimals. We won't even let ourselves think of what these girls went through. She also heard the statement "No one wants these girls, this is our last place to leave them".
God spoke to her and said, "What is your purpose?" To bake cookies and raise money to help get these girls out of the sex trade. I have brought them to you to show them I love them, even if for a short time.
I was challenged by all this because God has been asking me to continue to pray for land near the orphange for these young girls for a half way house and for leaders there. I shared this with my daughter and she said, people have been telling her their heart is for young girls placed in these condtitions not by choice.
Now I am ranting, but we have it so good. We really think we sacrifice if we do something "missional when it works with our schedule or it is fun or everyone at church is doing it. I am guilty. What if for one month in our churches, we didn't serve coffee and donuts, didn't buy props for our church or couldn't go to the store to buy the things we think necessary. We had to look around and make things work and be creative without spending a penny. Many countries I have been to do this every week. And that money we don't use would go to missions so their life could be easier for one week or maybe even eat more than 2 meals a day.
To be honest, when I am in Ukraine or Mexico to do without is not hard for me, but when I come home doing without is very frustrating. I love the American life style. This is a battle that I have been fighting for a month now. Hearing Sandra's story has brought what I have been trying to push down inside me so I wouldn't have to think about it, up to center stage again.
I hear the terms missional, not a fan and radical used often by me and others...Am I up to the challenge?
Thank you for your simple realness. Thank you for your faithfulness even if it is under duress sometimes. You truly do have a story to tell. Keep telling your stories. Keep depending on God to do something with them. Thank you for setting an example.
ReplyDeleteTonight at Mission Connection you told your wonderful simple stories and showed your wood carvings as illustrations and taught me about simple faith, trust and obedience and God can use a weak vessel like me to tell the story God has given me through the art He has given me. You have opened new horizons. Thank you.